Table and chair set



March 26, 1963 o. A. THORSON TABLE AND CHAIR SET Filed Oct. 27. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a a 0 .8. s

iiiiinm i INVENTOR. OLE A.T'Ho\zsoN A-r'ro RNEY5 March 26, 1963 o. A. THORSON 3,083,052

TABLE AND CHAIR SET Filed Oct. 27, 1961 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OLE. A. THoEsoN A ORNEYS i rws d United States Patent T 3,983,052 TABLE AND CHAIR SET Ole A. Thorson, 3716 Orchard Ave. N., Robhinsdale 22, Minn. Filed Oct. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 148,116 1 Claim. (Cl. 297-140) This invention relates to furniture, and in particular to a furniture group especially adapted for use by children of pre-school age, but not necessarily limited thereto. In order to stimulate the interest, and foster mental development in the very young, it is helpful to provide surroundings Which markedly deviate from conventional construction and design. At the same time it remains important to conserve space, and also to provide articles of furniture which, while basically simple of design, are nevertheless rugged and serviceable, so as to be equal to the destructive forces which may be expected to be encountered, and it is a general object to provide a table and chair set which attains these ends.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a table of minimized structural components, yet providing ample work surface wd an ample expanse of ground support. In still greater particular, it is an object to provide a table which combines a pair of disc members connected by a slender columnar support, and which is reversible, end for end, in use. A related object is to provide a table as aforesaid, and a set of chairs of similar construction to that of the table, and which may be stored between the end discs when not in use. Yet another object is to provide a spool-form table, with a slender, central column, composed of a series of discs assembled on a central rod.

These, and other ends which will be apparent, are attained by the present invention, a preferred form of which is described in the following specification, and illustrated in :the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the table, and a cooperating set of four chairs, three in stowed position within the table, and one positioned for sitting at the table,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the table of FIG- URE l, tilted to show the under face of the bottom disc,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the table of FIG- URE l, with the parts shown in exploded form, and some of the set of identical washers in the central column omit-ted,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the staggered line 4-4 in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the staggered line 55 or" FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, there is shown a table of spool-like form, comprising a pair of identical end discs 10, 12, connected by a central column 14. These discs, or flanges, as well as all other parts of the table, exclusive of hardware, are preferably formed from /4 inch lumber, preferably hard wood.

As seen in FIGURE 3, the central column 14 is made up of stacked, identical, wooden washers 16, assembled on a central bolt 18. For added strength these will also be glued or cemented at their interfaces. Below the stack of discs 16, the bolt carries a somewhat larger washer 20, bored to reecive four Wood screws 22., which serve to attach it to the base 12. Similarly, above the stack of washers 16, the bolt carries a larger washer 24, with screws 26, for attachment to the underside of top disc 10. The upper washer 24 has a counter bore 28 to accommodate a washer 30 and holding nut 32 of the bolt, and a similar counterbore 34 is provided in the lower washer 20, to accommodate a washer 36 and the head 38 of the bolt.

The chairs, or stools, indicated generally by the nu- 3,083,052 Patented Mar. 26, 1963 meral 40, have the same general shape as the table, but of diminished size, and the construction details are the same, as will appear from the chair shown in axial section in FIGURE 4. Thus, the chairs may be viewed as satellites of the table. In the chairs, the top and bottom discs 42, 44 are the counterparts of table discs 10, 12, bolt 46 has the same function as bolt 18 in the table, end washers 48, 50, correspond to washers 20, 24 in the table, and stacked washers 52 are similar to washers 16 of the table. Due to the more severe usage which the chairs may be expected to undergo,the discs 52 of the column are shown as identical in size with their counterparts 16 in the table. However, it will be understood that the size is not critical, but may be varied within relatively wide limits, and in particular, all of the chair parts may be constructed in strict proportion to their corresponding pants in the table. Also the diameter of the central bolt will, in each case, be suited to the demands of the structure it unites.

Since the table is of identical construction at its two ends, and is symmetrical about a central plane, it is possible to use it with either end up, thus providing a feature which, aside from its utilitarian aspects, has an especial appeal to the fertile, receptive, and imaginative minds of children. For instance, since children almost invariably become bored with any long period of occupation sitting at a table, the reversible furniture provides an occasional diversified outlet for their energy.

The novel table construction may be further utilized, with educational advantages, by including appropriate legends on the outer faces of the table discs. As shown in FIGURE 1, the exposed, upper disc 10 includes the letters of the alphabet, arranged in a ring near the periphery. Complementing this theme, the face of the other disc 12 (FIGURE 2) may have the ten digits similarly arranged, as Well as simple sums or products. As a result, when a teaching session shifts from literature to numbers, or vice versa, the tedium is relieved by the opportunity to manipulate the furniture, by turning it end for end. These same possibilities may also be extended to the chairs, which, as shown, bear pictorial representations of a variety of animals.

The young users will find a variety of possible manipulations which lead to amusement and healthy exercise, among other things. For instance, they will discover a fascinating occupation in rolling the table and chairs about, and this, as well as other possible uses, will lead to the invention of numerous games. Even the chore of storing the stools within the table will seem more in the nature of play than work. It is also possible to use the stools as bar bells, and this will provide another outlet for excess juvenile energy.

The possibilities for legends to be included on the end discs of the furniture are manifold. For instance, in a religious environment, such as a church school or nursery, they may bear such material as prayers, biblical illustrations, hymns, or the ten commandments. In a more secular environment, the table tops may include, with or without the alphabet and arithmetical forms and tables, a representation of the solar system, with the sun at the center, and the several planets in their respective orbits, shown in proper scale, and with accompanying data for each planet. Planetary motion may also be graphically illustrated by rotating the stools While carrying them around the table to simulate revolution in orbit.

Aside from the utilitarian aspects, the table and stool construction lends itself to a variety of patterns of ornamentation, as for instance in the provision of different colored Wood, or distinctive grain in the respective discs 16, 52 of the column members, or by painting successive washers in contrasting colors. The circular form of the end discs 10, 12, also lends itself to a variety of patterns which may be ornamental, entertaining, or educational, or any combination of these. Elementary teaching respecting color appreciation will be materially assisted by painting the eight end discs of the stools each in a different color. This will still permit of animal pictures, either painted on, or in the form of [a decal. The names of the animals may also be included.

While a certain, prefererd embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications will become apparent, in the light of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, be deemed as limited, except inso far as shall appear from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A nested table and chair set comprising:

(I) a table comprising:

(a) a pair of identical discs arranged in spaced coaxial relation and having inner and outer faces;

([2) each of said outer faces being formed as a flat, finished table top;

() a cylindrical support of substantially less diameter than said discs positioned coaxially between said discs and connected thereto; and

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 93,968 Brower Dec. 4, 1954 14,910 George May 20, 1856 522,221 Lucashevski July 3, 1894 1,546,777 Deinhart -luly 21, 1925 1,787,982 Hess Jan. 6, 1931 2,628,664 Thompson et a1 Feb. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 251,490 Great Britain May 6, 1926 886,258 France June 28, 1943 

